Featured Fraud: Corrections Officer Goes Directly to Jail

Falsifying Workers' Comp Claim Earns Spot in Slammer

A former Orange County, Fla. corrections officer who erroneously thought he could beat the system now faces time on the other side of those cold, steely bars.

Detectives from the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud have arrested Keith Jackson, charging him with workers’ compensation fraud and grand theft after an investigation allegedly revealed a trail of lies, including failing to disclose pre-existing conditions when filing a claim.

According to the office of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Jackson started receiving benefits to which he was not entitled for back and foot injuries that were supposedly sustained while participating in defense tactics training as an Orange County, Fla. corrections officer on June 10, 2010.

Consequently, Jackson collected more than $115,000 in workers’ compensation benefits before investigators came knocking. On Feb. 27, authorities arrested Jackson for fraud and grand theft, in connection with allegedly making false statements and omitting material information about his medical conditions. Jackson was booked at the Orange County Jail and, if convicted, faces as many as 30 years in prison—which is plenty of time to finetune his defense tactics.

Atwater pointed to Jackson’s case as a warning to those who believe they are above the law:

“It is one of my missions as your CFO to root out fraud of all types,” he said. “Those who are looking to game the system ultimately put the financial burden on all of Florida’s consumers. If you bilk the system, we will find you and put you behind bars.”